Printing-machine.



No. 759,936. PATENTED' MAY 17, 1904. G. w. SWIFT, JR. PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, 1902. N0 MODEL. 4 snnn'rs-snns'r 1.

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No. 759,936. 'PATENTED MAY 17,1904.

(G. W. SWIFT, JR.

PRINTING MACHINE.

v APPLIOATION FILED my 29, 1902..

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WITNESSES: ,INVENTOR:

PATENTBD MAY 17, 1904.

- G. w. SWIFT, JR.

PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED-HAY 29 1902.

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' N0 MODEL.

WITNESSES:

Patented May 17, 1904.

UNITED ST TES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE W. SWIFT, JR, OF BORDENTOWN, NEW JERSEY.

PRINTING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 759,936, dated May 17,1904.

Application filed May 29, 1902 Serial No- 109,436. (No model.)

T all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, GEORGE W. SWIFT,Jr., of Bordentown, in the State ofNew Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inPrinting-Machines, whereof the following is a specification, referencebeing had, to the accompanying drawings.

My improvements relate particularly to machines for printing series ofenvelope with successively different dates and numbers.

As hereinafter described, my improvements are comprised in aprinting-machine wherein the blanks are progressed over the platen bymeans of a belt conveyer intermittently actuated in definite relationwith the oscillation of a bed-frame, which latter is provided withimprinting devices and means to automatically vary the same during theintervals between successive imprints.

My invention comprehends the various novel features of construction andarrangement hereinafter specified.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of aprinting-machine conve11- iently embodying my invention. Fig. 11 is afront elevation of said machine. Fig. 111 is an elevation oftheright-hand side of said machine, as shown in Figs. 1 and 11. Fig. 1V isa fragmentary sectional view of said machine, taken on the line 1V 1V inFig. 11. Fig. V is a fragmentary perspective view of the belt conveyerfor feeding the blanks in definite relation to the printing mechanism.Fig. V1 is a fragmentary plan view of the periphery of theprinting-drum. Fig. V11is a side view of the parts shown in Fig. VI.Fig. V111 is a sectional detail view of the mechanism for intermittentlypawling said aiming-drum. Fig. 1X is a sectional detail view of thedetent mechanism which engages said printing-drum.

In said figures, 1 is the stationary main frame comprising the verticalstandards 2 3. The main driving-shaft4 is mounted to rotate in saidframe 1 and is provided with the hand wheel 5 and tight and loosepulleys 6 and 7. The belt-shifter 8 is mounted to slide upon saidstandard 2 in operative relation with said tight and loose pulleys andis provided with the operating-lever 9, fulcrumed at 10 upon saidstandard 2. The inner extremity of said shaft 4 is provided with thebevel-pinion 12, engaged with the bevel-gear 13, fixed upon thecounter-shaft 14, which latter ismounted to rotate in said standards 2and 3, and is provided at its outer extremities with the cranks 16 and17 respectively connected by the rods 18 and 19 with the bed-frame 21.Said rods are pivoted upon the studs 22 in eccentric relation with thetrunnions 23 of the yoke 25, which trunnions are journaled in the freeextremities of the arms 27 and 28 of said bed-frame 21. Said bed-frame21 being pivoted at 30 upon the stationary frame 1 is arranged to bevertically oscillated thereon by the rods 18 and 19, above described.Said movement of oscillation may, however, be varied by manipulation ofthe yoke 25, as hereinafter described. Said bed-frame 21 is opposed tothe platen 31, fixed in the top of the frame 1, and carries a pluralityof printing devices, as follows: The chase 32 is in fixed relation withsaid bedframe 21 and is provided with movable type 33, secured inremovable relation therewith for instance, by the ordinary furniture andquoins. (Indicatedin section in Fig. 1V.) The side arms 27 and 28 ofsaid bed-frame 21 are connected by the stationary shaft 37, upon whichis loosely mounted the printing-drum 38,which is provided with fifty-twoperipheral recesses 40, in which are mounted groups of movable types orslugs 41. The wedge-blocks 42 are seated in said recesses 40 andprovided with means, suchas the bolts 43, adjustable to clamp said slugs41 in the drum. Said drum 38 may be automatically rotated 'tosuccessively present the type groups 41 at the printing-pointinopposition to the platen 31 by the pawl 45, which is mounted in thelever 46. Said lever 46 is loosely mounted upon the shaft 37, adjoiningthe drum 38, as shown in Fig. 1V; and is pivotally connected at its freeextrcmity by the link 48 with the stationary lug 49, projecting from thetop of'theframe 1, as shown in Fig. 11. Said pawl -'45,' being providedwith the spring 51, (shown i'nFig. V111,) is normally presented forsuccessive engagement with the ratchet-teeth 52 in the slde face of tliedrum 38. The teeth 52 correspond in number with the type groups 41 uponthe periphery of said drum, and it is to be undersuch that during theupward movement of the bed-frame 21 the drum 38 is rotated by themovement of said lever 46 the extent of one space between the adjoiningtype groups 41 on the periphery of the drum. On the side face of saiddrum 38 opposite to the ratchetteeth 52 are detent-notches 54,corresponding in number to said ratchet-teeth 52 and type groups 41, andthe arrangement is such that at the upper limit of the oscillatorymovement of said bed-frame 21 and consequent rotary movement of saiddrum 38 the roller 55, carried by the detent-lever 56, engagesin one ofsaid notches 54 and prevents'reverse rotation of said drum during thedownward movement of the bed-frame 21. As best shown in Fig. 1X, saiddetent-lever 56 is fulcrumed at 57 on the arm 28 of the bed-frame 21 andis provided with the spring 68, which thrusts said levertoward the drum38. w

The mechanism above described is normally so related as to shift thedrum 38 one fifty-second of a revolution at each oscillation of thebed-frame 21 and thus cause said drum to make fifty-two successivelydifferent imprints with the respective type groups 41. However, I findit desirable to provide means whereby the operator may at will so varythe movement of the bed 21 as to permit it to oscillate idly withouteffecting the rotation of the drum 38 or imprinting from the latter.ThereforeI connect the rods 18 and 19 with said bed 21 by means of theeccentric trunnions 23, which are so arranged that when the yoke 25connecting them isupturned to the dotted position indicated in Fig. IIthe bed-frame 21 is upheld from the platen 31. The bar 60, provided withthe wedge 61,being pivoted at 62 upon said yoke 25 and mounted to slideupon the stem of the pawl 45, the aforesaid upward movement of the yoke25 thrusts said wedge against the collar 63, fixed upon the stem of saidpawl 45, and thereby withdraws and withholds the latter from engagementwith the drum 38, so that while the yoke 25 is maintained in itsabnormal uplifted position by the spring-detents 39 the drum 38' is notrotated and neither it or the other printing devices can operate whilethe yoke is so held. In addition to the chase 32 and drum 38 saidbed-frame 21 carriestwo auxiliary printing devices 65 and 66, eachcomprising a series of type-disks, each of said disks being providedwith the characters 1 to 9 and 0, arranged serc'atim on its periphery.Said printing devices also comprise internal mechanism of any convenientform, terminating in the exterior levers 67 and 68, and so arranged thatthe characters on the respective disks are presented in alinement at thebottom thereof in opposition to the platen 31, and the whole numberrepresented by the adjoining characters at the printing-point isincreased one unit by each depression of said levers 67 and 68. Saidlevers 67 and 68 are respectively connected by the rods 72 73 with thearm 75 on the rockshaft 76, mounted in "bearings inthe bracket 77 infixed relation with the bed-frame 21. The opposite extremity of saidshaft 76 is provided with the crank-lever 79, which is encountered andshifted by the cam 80, fixed upon the inner periphery of the drum 38,the

arrangement being such that said lever 75,

rods 72 73, and levers 67 68 are depressed, and the respective printingdevices 65 and 66 automatically reset upon the completion of eachrevolution of the drum 38. Said bedframe 21 carries the inking-disk 81between the parallel guides 29, which project from said frame in rigidrelation with the respective arms 27 and 28 thereof. The roller-frame 82is fulcrumed at 83 upon said bed-frame and pivotally connected by thelinks 84 with the studs 85, projecti'ngfrom the stationary frame 1. Thesaddles 86 are provided at their outer extremitieswith bearings for thetrunnions of the inking-roller 87 and (being mounted to reciprocate inthe roller-frame 82 and provided with springs 88) cause said roller 87to traverse the inking-disk 81 and all the type-faces at the printingposition, including those of the drum 38, chase 32, and auxiliaryprinting devices 65 and 66, while the bed 21 oscillates, as abovedescribed. Said inkingdisk 81 is partially rotated each time thebed-frame, is uplifted by the engagement of the circular rack 89 on saiddisk with the pawl 90, pivoted upon the bracket 91, projecting from thestationary frame-standard 3. As shown in Fig. II, the. inking-roller 87en.- counters the fountain-roller 92 when the bedframe 21 is lowered,and the ink thus received is transferred to the disk 81 and distributedby the rotation of the latter. Said fountainroller 92 is mounted forrotation in the ink fountain 93 and'is intermitt entlyrotated therein bythe oscillation of the lever 94, which is pivoted at 95 upon the side ofthe fountain 93 and provided at its inner extremity with the pivotedpawl 96. (Best shown in Fig. II.) Said lever 94 is operated by the link97,which pivotally connects it with the collar 98 upon thevertically-reciprocatory connectingrod 99, which latter is operativelyconnected at its lowerextremity with the eccentric on the counter-shaft14. Said connecting-rod 99 and eccentric 100 serve to actuate theblank-feeding mechanism, which is arranged as follows: The upperextremity of the rod 99 is pivotally connected with the pawl-disk 102,which carries the spring-pressed pawl 103 in operative relation with theratchet 104, so as to intermittently rotate the shaft 105, upon whichsaid ratchet is fixed. Said shaft 105 is mounted in the bearing-bracket106, projecting from the stationary frame-standard 2, and the outerextremity of said shaft is connected by the miter-gears 107 with theshaft 108, which latter is mounted to rotate in the brackets 109,projecting from said frame-standard 2. Said shaft 108 is provided withtwo sprocket-wheels 110, supportingchain belts 111, which extend acrossthe platen 31 and are supported upon the opposite side thereof by thesprocketwheels 113. Said wheels 113 are mounted upon the shaft 114 inthe adjustable bearing 115 upon the bracket 116, projecting from theframe-standard 3. As best shown in Fig. 1V, said chains 111 are providedwith respectively opposite spring-clips 117, one of which is shown indetail in Fig. V. Each of said clips 117 is pivoted upon a stud 118,projecting from the side of its supporting-chain, and is normallypressed by the spring 119 against an abutment 120, projecting from saidchain. However, each of said clips 117 is provided with a roller-arm122, which in its traverse beneath the earn 123 uplifts the clip 117from said abutment 120 to grip a blank 125, and

thereafter intermittently progress the same across the platen 31 to beprinted.

A supply of the blanks 125 is conveniently maintained in the magazine126, mounted upon the table 127, supported by the bracket 109. Saidblanks are delivered singly from the bottom of said magazine by thespring-fingers 128, which successively deliver the blanks 125 in properposition to be engaged by the successive pairs of clips 117 as thelatter are uplifted by the cams 123. Said fingers 128 are carried by thecross-bar 129, which is mounted for reciprocation in slideways in thetable 127 and is reciprocated by the links 130, which extend to thelevers 131 and 132, fixed upon the rock-shaft 133. As best shown inFigs. 11 and III, the lever 132 is in operative engagement with thetappet 135, fixed upon the vertical reciproeatory connecting-rod 18,hereinbefore described. The blanks 125', retained by said spring-fingers128, are intermittently progressed across the table 127 and platen 31and are imprinted on the latter by the auxiliary printing devices and 66by the type 33 in the chase 32 and by the successively different typegroups upon the printing-drum 38. The printed blanks are presented bythe clips 117 between the opposed gripping-rollers 138 139 and arecontemporaneously released by the traverse of the clips 117 beneath thestationary cams 141, which are mounted upon the right-hand side of theplaten 31, as shown in Fig. 1V.

Asshown in Figs. I and IV, the shaft 114, provided with thesprocket-wheels 113, is also provided with the gear-wheel 142, whichengages the gear-wheel 143 upon the grippingroller 138 and positivelyrotates the latter. The gripping-roller 139, opposed to said roller 138,is connected by the belts 144 with the idle roller 145, and said rollers139 and 145 are mounted in the frame 146, which is pivoted upon thestandard 147 and provided with the spring 148, (shown in Fig. 1V,) sothat said roller 139 is upheld with said belts 144 in frictionalengagement with the grip ping-roller 138. Said belts 144 serve todeliver the printed blanks 125 upon the conveyerbelts 149, which latterare supported by the rollers 150 and 151, mounted to rotate in hearingsin the brackets 152, projecting from the stationary frame-standard 3.Said roller 150 is provided with the band-wheel 154, connected by thedriving-belt 155 with the drivingwheel 156, mounted upon the outerextremity of the shaft 114. The arrangement above described is such thatthe printed blanks are discharged by the belts 144 and 149 in'theconsecutive order in which they are printed.

The above-described arrangement of the various printing devices isparticularly adapted for printing series of weekly-contribution envelopsfor a plurality of subscribers designated by numbersthat is to say, aseries of lift two of said blanks may be respectively printed withconsecutively different dates from said type-wheel 38, and by theauxiliary printing devices 65 and 66 each of said blanks will becontemporaneously printed in two places with a designating number commonto the entire seriesof fifty-two. The movable type 33 in the chase 32 isutilized to imprint said envelops with a title or any other datadesired. Upon the completion of each revolution of said drum saidauxiliary printing devices 65 and 66 will be shifted to print asucceeding series of fifty-two blanks with a common designating numberdifferent from that of the preceding series. However, 1 do not desiretolimit myself to the precise construction and arrangement which 1havedescribed, as it is obvious that various modifications may be madetherein without departing from'the essential features of my invention.

I claim 1. In a printing-machine, the combination with a stationaryplaten; of an oscillatory beda frame; driving mechanism; connectionsbetween said mechanism and said frame arranged to oscillate said framerelatively to said platen; a printing-drum carried by said bed-frame;means to automatically rotate said drum step by step and tointermittently lock the same; and, means to adjust said connections between the driving mechanism and bed-frame,

without stopping the driving mechanism, so as to render said druminoperative and to throw out theautomatie rotating means, substantiallyas set forth.

2. In aprinting-machine, the combination with a stationary main frame;of a bed-frame arranged to oscillate thereon; aplaten on said stationaryframe; a printing-drum carriedby said bed-frame; a chase carried by saidbedframe; an auxiliary printing device carried by said bed-frame; meansto raise and lower said bed-frame with respect to said platen andthereby contemporaneously print from said drum said chase and saidauxiliary printing device; means to automatically rotate said frame stepby step during each oscillation of said bed-frame; and means toautomatically lock said drum in adjusted position, substantially as setforth.

3. In a printing-machine, the combination with a stationary main framecarrying a platen; of a bed-frame mounted to oscillate on said mainframe; a printing-drum and a numberprinting device carried by saidbed-frame; means to raise and lower said bed frame; means to rotate saiddrum step by step at each oscillation of the bed-frame; and, means onsaid drum to automatically change the number printed by said device atthe completion of each revolution of said drum, substantially as setforth.

4:. In a printing-machine, the combination with a stationary main frame;of a platen supported by said main frame; means to supply blanksthereto; an oscillatory bed-frame pivoted to said stationary frame;arotatable typedrum, a number-printing device, and a relativelystationary chase, all carried in said bedframe; means to oscillate saidbed frame; means to rotate said drum step by step as the bed-frameoscillates; and, means to'automatically change the number printed bysaid device at each complete revolution of said drum, substantially asset forth.

5. In a printing-machine, the combination with a stationary main frame;of a magazine for blanks supported by said frame; a platen in saidframe; a belt conveyer arranged to carry blanks from said magazineacross said platen; feeding mechanism arranged to successively deliverblanks from said magazine to said conveyer; a rotary drum provided witha series of type on its periphery; an oscillatory bed-frame carryingsaid drum; means to intermittently rotate said drum to successivelypresent its type at the printing-point; means to oscillate said frame toimprint said blanks from said drum; and means to intermittently progresssaid conveyer, substantially as set forth.

6. In a printing-machine, the combination with a stationary frame; of aplaten in said frame and means to supply blanks thereto; a rotary drumopposed to said platen; a series of date-type arranged at intervals onthe periphery of said drum; means to raise and lower said drum; means toautomatically rotate said drum to successively present its date-type atthe printing-point; an auxiliary number-printing device; and means toautomatically'change the number printed by said device, at eachrevolution of said drum, substantially as set forth.

7. In a printing-machine, the combination with a stationary frame; of aplaten on said frame; a rotary drum opposed to said platen; a series oftype on the periphery of said drum; a series of ratchet-teeth in saiddrum corresponding to said series of type; a series of detent-notches insaid drum corresponding to said type; means to raise and lower said drumto imprint with the type thereon; means to rotate said drum andsuccessively present its different type at the printing-point; saidmeans comprising a pawl and a link connecting said pawl with said frame;said pawl being arranged to engage one of the ratchet-teeth in said drumand rotate the latter while it is raised; and, means to render said pawlinop- 9. In a printing-machine, the combination with a stationary mainframe; of a bed-frame arranged to oscillate thereon; a rotaryprinting-drum carried by said bed-frame; aplaten on said stationaryframe; means to oscillate said bed-frame to print from said drum uponsaid platen; means to rotatively shift said drum at each oscillation ofsaid bed frame; and means to both vary the movement of said bedframe,and render said shifting mechanism inoperative, and thereby permit saidbed-frame to oscillate without printing from said drum or rotating thelatter, substantially as set forth.

10. In a printing-machine, the combination with a stationary main frame;of a bed-frame arranged'to oscillate thereon; a printing-drum carried bysaid bed-frame and provided upon its periphery with a series of groupsof type; means to oscillate said bed-frame, comprising a rotary shaft, acrank on said shaft, and a connecting-rod extending from said crank tosaid bed-frame; a yoke provided with an eccentrictrunnion between saidconnecting-rod and said bed-frame, whose rotary position variablydetermines the relative position of said connecting-rod and bed-frame; apawl normally arranged to partially rotate said drum during eachoscillation of said bed-frame; and a wed gebar operatively connectingsaid yoke and said pawl; whereby, said yoke may be shifted tosimultaneously render said pawl inoperative and to permit said bed-frameto oscillate without printing from said drum, substantially as setforth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name, at Philadelphia,Pennsylvania, this 27th day of May, 1902.

GEORGE IV. SWIFT, JR.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR E. PAIGE, MILDRED BARNHART.

